Brewer: Letter supports denial of public benefits

Gov. Jan Brewer (AP Photo/Matt York)

Gov. Jan Brewer says she’s found support for her executive order that denies public benefits for people who qualify for the deferred deportation policy.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services sent a letter to states this week saying that illegal immigrants who receive temporary reprieves from deportation won’t be eligible for Medicaid.

Brewer spokesman Matthew Benson tells the Arizona Republic (http://bit.ly/PSzXEc ) that the letter should solve the debate surrounding the governor’s Aug. 15 executive order.

He says the Medicaid finding should extend to all benefits, including state driver’s licenses.

The chairwoman of the Arizona Immigration Lawyers Association, Regina Jeffries, says the newly deferred illegal immigrants weren’t expected to receive federally funded benefits. But she says they will meet state requirements for driver’s licenses once they receive a work permit.